We cannot be sure the exact time on Monday night— or will it be Tuesday morning?—the college football season officially will end. It will end for certain, though. It will end with either Notre Dame or Alabama as champion and with college sports fans perhaps seeking some alternative programming.

Oh, man, is college basketball set to give it to them.

Phil Pressey and Missouri begin SEC play this week. (AP Photo)

You think November and December are filled with too many crummy games? You think March is the only month that matters? Well here we are only a bit more than two months from Selection Sunday—March 17, if you want to mark it on your calendar—with only a hint of who are the best teams and best players are this season.

If you’re going to take the lazy talk-host’s attitude that only March counts in this game, then you might as well also do the same toward the regular seasons in every other sport. It’s merely an excuse not to pay attention. Because there is so much we will learn about this college season over the next 10 weeks.

However strongly we may believe in Michigan or Duke, the evidence supporting each one’s supremacy is somewhat limited. However much we may wonder about Arizona or Indiana, we will discover the limits of their potential soon. Think Kentucky will get it together? A reasonable position, but some actual progress toward that end must begin immediately.

Only March matters? Just consider the noon time slot this Saturday. In that window on ESPN, No. 1 Duke (14-0) will play what might stand as its toughest ACC road game, at No. 23 N.C. State (12-2). At the same time on the Big Ten Network, preseason national champ favorite and No. 5 Indiana (13-1) will be at home against surging No. 9 Minnesota (13-1), which is the last team to win at Assembly Hall. If you’re out tobogganing early that afternoon, that’s not the sport’s fault.

There will be so many essential games played between Tuesday and Sunday of this week it is hard to capture them all in the time and space allotted. It’s like a 10-question essay exam presented by a professor whose class lasts only an hour. We will do what we can to cram it all in.

How’s Missouri going to like the Southeastern Conference? Smarties who respond, “More than playing Bucknell” will get two points deducted from their final score. Check out: Alabama (8-5) at Missouri (11-2), Tuesday 7 p.m., ESPN.

What’s Butler’s Atlantic 10 horizon? A tough road game in the A-10 is not Youngstown State, as the No. 17 Bulldogs will discover in their conference opener at Saint Joseph’s relatively impenetrable Hagan Arena. Which, interestingly, is smaller than some arenas in the Horizon League. Check out: Butler (12-2) at Saint Joseph’s (8-4), Wednesday 7 p.m. Comcast Sports.

How high can the Mountain West climb? As the league surges back to life, it also flourishes as never before in this sport. The Mountain West is the No. 2-rated conference in the RPI, and given that most interleague competition is over that’s more or less going to stand. How many bids are there for a league that owns six teams with records of 12-2 or better? Check out: No. 24 UNLV (13-2) at New Mexico (13-2), Wednesday 10 p.m., CBS Sports Network.

Anyone out there fit to challenge Duke? North Carolina rescued its non-conference season with a decisive late-2012 victory over UNLV. Miami has achieved the perhaps unprecedented distinction of defeating Michigan State while losing to Florida Gulf Coast. N.C. State and Maryland figure to be in the Atlantic Coast Conference race, but the Heels and Canes were expected to be there, as well. Check out: Miami (11-3) at North Carolina (11-3), Thursday 7 p.m., ESPN.

Kentucky couldn’t miss the NCAAs. Right? OK, silly question. Too many talented players, too gifted a coach, too much evidence against esteemed opposition of what this team might be able to accomplish. Look how close the Wildcats came against Duke and Louisville. So how sure are you the Wildcats will take to the Southeastern Conference road and avoid resume-damaging defeats? There aren’t as many places in the SEC where one can explain away a road loss. Check out: Kentucky (9-4) at Vanderbilt (6-6), Thursday 9 p.m., ESPN.

Could Gonzaga land a No. 1 seed? The Zags’ customary ambition was evident in the names on their non-league schedule, but not always the teams. Among their victims, Kansas State and Oklahoma State have performed better than expected, but West Virginia and Baylor a little worse. The only loss was to Illinois. Is there enough heft there to get Gonzaga a 1 if it dominates an improved West Coast Conference (but it’s still the West Coast Conference)? Check out: Saint Mary’s (12-3) at No. 10 Gonzaga (15-1), Thursday 11 pm., ESPN2.

Can we take a breath on Friday? Only one correct answer to this question. The Horizon League is moving on without Butler. You should, too. Check out: Wright State (11-4) at Loyola Ramblers (10-4), Friday 9 p.m., ESPNU.

What will you be doing noon Saturday? There are three correct answers for this one: watching Minnesota at Indiana, watching Duke at N.C. State, or toggling back and forth between those games and perhaps one of your provincial interests: No. 15 Georgetown at St. John’s, 11 a.m. ESPN2; Marquette at No. 24 Pitt, noon ESPNU; Virginia at Clemson, noon ESPNU.

You think we’re done with you? Though you may be tempted toward spending time with the NFL playoffs Sunday afternoon, there’ll be some serious college hoops played—including what might be a defending game in the Big Ten race. Check out: No. 2 Michigan (14-0) at No. 8 Ohio State (11-3), Sunday 1:30 p.m., CBS.